118 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



be always prepared to do battle, in defence of the 

 younger members of the community. The wolf, as 

 the weaker party, trusts more to cunning than strength. 

 For a party of wolves openly to attack a taboon at 

 noon-day, would be to rush upon certain destruction ; 

 and, however severely the wolf may be pressed by 

 hunger, he knows his own weakness too well, to ven- 

 ture on so absurd an act of temerity. At night, in- 

 deed, if the taboon happen to be a little scattered, and 

 the wolves in tolerable numbers, they will sometimes 

 attempt a rush, and a general battle ensues. An ad- 

 mirable spirit of coalition then displays itself among 

 the horses. On the first alarm, stallions and mares 

 come charging up to the threatened point, and attack 

 the wolves with an impetuosity that often puts the 

 prowlers to instant flight. Soon, however, if they feel 

 themselves sufficiently numerous, they return, and 

 hover about the taboon, till some poor foal straggle a 

 few yards from the main body, when it is seized by 

 the enemy, while the mother, springing to its rescue, 

 is nearly certain to share the same fate. Then it is 

 that the battle begins in real earnest. The mares 

 form a circle, within which the foals take shelter. We 

 have seen pictures in which the horses are represented 

 in a circle, presenting their hind hoofs to the wolves, 

 who thus appear to have the free choice to fight, or to 

 let it alone. Such pictures are the mere result of ima- 

 gination, and bear very little resemblance to the real- 



